Wall anchors are used to hang items that are light to moderate in weight into the areas of drywall that do not have wall studs. Whether you need to install wall anchors for pictures, decorative items or shelves, it is necessary to install wall anchors, especially if you are trying to hang something where there is not a wall stud. Installing wall anchors keeps hanging screws from ripping out of your drywall due to their weight.

You can choose from a variety of different types of wall anchors. Determining which wall anchors to use depends on how heavy the item is and how much of a load will be placed on the wall anchor.

The three most common wall anchors include:

• Plastic wall anchors
• Hollow wall anchors
• Toggle bolts

Installing Plastic Wall Anchors

Materials and Tools:

• Plastic wall anchors
• Sheet metal screws (generally come with your plastic wall anchors)
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Drill

Plastic wall anchors are generally used when you have something light to hang in the drywall. This will include such items as, light pictures and decorations. Plastic wall anchors look like plastic screws with a hole in them. This hole holds the screw. Installing wall anchors that are plastic is an easy process.

Steps to install plastic wall anchors:

1. Drill a hole that is slightly smaller than the anchor itself.
2. Tap the wall anchor gently into the wall with the hammer.
3. With the screwdriver, screw a sheet-metal screw into the plastic anchor.

Installing Hollow Wall Anchors

Materials and Tools:

• Hollow wall anchors
• Drill
• Two screwdrivers

Hollow wall anchors, also called molly bolts, are used for securing medium weight loads, frames and pictures. They are similar to plastic wall anchors and are made from either plastic or metal. However, the difference is, hollow wall anchors flare out at the back side of the anchor when they are installed. This flare creates a wider base on the back side of the wall, which will better secure the screw and weight it carries.

Steps to install hollow wall anchors

1. Drill a hole slightly larger than the anchor
2. Insert the hollow wall anchor into the wall
3. Use one screwdriver to hold the anchor in place and use the second to insert the screw.
4. At first, you will notice resistance until the screw flares the backside of the hollow wall anchor open.

Installing Toggle Bolts

Toggle bolts are used for moderately heavy loads, such as large, heavy pictures, wood shelves and glass items, such as candle holders or sconces with glass globes. They have spring-loaded metal wings that close for insertion, and then spread out flat on the backside of the wallboard. This creates a sturdy anchor.

Materials and Tools:

• Toggle bolts
• Bracket or hanging fixture
• Screwdriver
• Drill

Steps to install toggle bolts:

1. Drill a hole that is just large enough for the closed toggle to go through.
2. Remove bolt from the wings and place a bracket or other hanging fixture onto bolt.
3. Screw the bolt back onto the toggle wings.
4. Push the closed wings gently through the drilled hole in the wall.
5. When the wings are pushed through the hole, they will spring open.
6. Tighten the bolt and the fixture.

Anyone can install wall anchors. You don’t have to reserve space on your walls where only the studs are placed anymore. Create a picture display or hang a shelf anywhere you want by installing wall anchors.

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Comments (4)

• |2010-09-03 16:24:23 DM  - spinning drywall anchor
  How do you fix it if your anchor begins spinning while trying to install the screw. One worked great and the other one is simply spinning. Is there a fix beyond new holes higher up? Don't really want more holes and have positioned correctly on the wall.
  
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• |2010-10-25 11:05:51 Bolts  - RE: Spinning Drywall Anchor
  You could try using putting a little amount of caulking or glue around the anchor, insert it back into the hole and leaving it for around an hour, and then try putting in the screw again.
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• |2011-04-13 13:57:39 K Meyers  - what's the name of the screws with the HUGE threa
  
  See picture on this web page....
  http://www.diy-hq.net/other/how-to-choose-and-install-wall-anchors.htm l
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• |2011-04-21 10:05:36 stainless steel screws  - RE: RE: Spinning Drywall Anchor
  My uncle once told me about the glue suggestion. Just make sure you apply it correctly, otherwise it might be difficult to actually turn the screw back into the anchor.
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